Hill Spews Fire, Panic in Manipur

Imphal: As tension mounts at Old Wahong Village in Jessami block, Ukhrul district over a volcano like eruption of smoke and ashes, the State Relief and Disaster department has informed that a team of experts from Earth Science, Delhi University left for the village to assess the emission on Saturday.

The eruption has been reportedly continuing for a few weeks now. The department had also sent a six member team of the department for a spot inquiry yesterday. The six member team was accompanied to the village by district officials including the concern SDO.

Villagers said the eruption in the nearby hill has been continuing for some time, and was first discovered by a hunter who had ventured near it more than a month back.

The discovery led to panic among the villagers who believed it could be the initial stage of a volcano eruption. Meanwhile, the district authority has also announced restriction of mobility in the area to prevent any unwanted accidents.